Lubbock airport on track for lowest passenger count in five years

The Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport so far in 2012 is on track to have its lowest passenger count in five years, dipping 2.5 percent from the first six months of 2011.

For the first six months of 2012, the airport recorded 243,229 passengers, according to a fact sheet presented at Tuesday's Airport Advisory Board meeting, and 254,405 in the first half of 2010.

Last year's number represents a 10 percent drop from 2007.

Deputy Director Kelly Campbell said the drop-off could be attributed in part to the loss of Delta service in the spring.

"But I'm not sure how much that has to do with it," she said. "It is what it is."

The greatest percentage of change came in June, when 4,119, or 8.7 percent, fewer passengers enplaned at the airport compared to the 47,525 passengers in June 2011. February so far is the only month with an increase in passengers, when 38,227 hopped a plane in Lubbock compared with 34,924 in February 2011 - about a 9.5 percent increase.

Along with the departing Delta, Continental/CO Express reported fewer passengers in the first part of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011 - the result of Continental's merging with United.

Delta, last reporting flights in April, decreased 55.2 percent for the year to date while Continental/CO Express reported a 74 percent drop, from 25,319 passengers to 6,594. Delta recorded 17,196 passengers for the first half of 2011 and 7,696 in January through April 2012.

Southwest, American Eagle, United and other carriers reported increases ranging from 34.7 percent among private carriers such as charter services to 0.2 percent for Southwest, which saw its passenger lists increase from 145,139 to 145,362.

Eagle reported a 0.9 percent increase, from 54,543 to 55,059.

United, which entered the Lubbock market in 2011, saw nearly 21,000 more passengers in the first half of 2012 than 2011, up from 6,204 to 27,155.

To comment on this story:

adam.young@lubbockonline.com • 766-8725

leesha.faulkner@lubbockonline.com • 766-8706

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